HEARTS WILL BLUHM

Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute is launching a first-of-its-kind consumer education and awareness campaign called “Hearts a Bluhm” to generate widespread awareness of the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in America.
Centered around a citywide art display of giant, painted acrylic hearts “blooming” throughout key high-traffic Chicago area locations, “Hearts a Bluhm” will creatively promote the importance of heart health throughout February 2011 – National Heart Month.
“The ‘Hearts a Bluhm’ campaign comes at a time when millions of Americans are affected daily by cardiovascular disease, including thousands here in Chicago alone,” said Patrick M. McCarthy, MD, chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery for Northwestern Memorial and director of its Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. “Our intent with this bold public art display is to encourage conversations about cardiovascular disease and its prevention and to celebrate the people whose lives have been saved through proper diagnosis and treatment.”
Each of the 100 oversized acrylic hearts, which will be displayed on public sidewalk planters and thoroughfares, will be creatively embellished and painted by a sponsoring organization or company and will be accompanied by a heart health education tip.
Columbia College Chicago will serve as the “Hearts a Bluhm” exhibit’s artistic partner with students, faculty, staff and alumni expected to decorate a number of the hearts. During the months of November and December 2010, sponsoring organizations and companies will also be invited to embellish their “hearts” at a special art studio located in the city. There, Columbia College Chicago creative advisors will be on hand to provide artistic guidance as the hearts are painted.

I had the pleasure of attending this event last night and what a great turnout and great event overall. The even began right on time and there were lots of power players of our great city in the room. Hazel Barr, Brenda Sexton, The top cardio-thoracic doctors at NMH(Dr. McCarthy, Dr. Lee, Dr. Malaisrie +others), Candice Jordan, Chaz Ebert, Macy's Andrea Schwartz, plus many more.Candidate Alexi Giannoulis made an appearance towards the end Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak& Stone Crab restaurante was the perfect place for such an event. They debut the first "heart" art(it hasn't been painted on yet). This is defintely a GREAT cause to support and I will be getting more information on its progress.

For more info please visit: http://www.heartsabluhm.org/

Special thanks to Henson Consulting